The idea of the concept started as a graduate school project management course presentation at the University of Missouri - Kansas City in late 2018. Brian approached his wife, Fernanda, with the proposal to begin drafting the blueprints of an eatery concept they have always dreamed to build since they first met.

Fernanda, a formerly trained chef from the Instituto Culinario de Mexico in Monterrey, MX, was passionate to create a concept that was different from the local “Tex Mex” and the authentic representative cuisine of the area. She wanted to deviate from the traditional structure of tacos and incorporate a chef’s flair representative of her exuberant style of eating while celebrating the diverse regional flavors of her beloved Mexico.

With the blueprints set on paper and looking sound, Brian and Fernanda decided to test the concept initially as a catering company. They were skeptical about their concept, but they believed in their skills and willpower. So with the help of their trusty old Honda CRV and the occasional Budget or U-haul rental truck, Brian and Fernanda set off to participate in local festivals, competitions, and catering events reaching as far as 100 miles around Kansas City.

Festivals and competitions helped us understand our customers by establishing a connection and listening to what they enjoyed about our food and how it measured against their expectations. They opened the doors for us to talk with our customers and face any praise or criticism head-to-head. It also gave us great insight into our brand and the customer confusion about where we came from or who we were.

The festival circuit was a lot of fun. However, it was not spreading the word about our catering services as well as anticipated. Brian thought there had to be a more fixed venue to market our services and direct interested prospects and leads. So in late 2019, Brian and Fernanda decided to sign up for a stall at the Overland Park Farmer’s Market. Initially, it was to be designed as a pop-up taqueria, carefully modeled after the traditional street taquerias found throughout the streets of Mexico where patrons sat across from the grill and prep areas enjoying delicious tacos while watching the craft in action. It was to be an intimate taco experience, and Brian and Fernanda were ecstatic. But then the pandemic arrived, and everything changed.

When the pandemic arrived, Brian and Fernanda had to quickly get creative and adapt to the new environment. Hot food could not be sold openly, and especially not in the way they initially dreamed of. So they quickly transformed the pop-up taqueria into an outdoor Mexican market pop-up selling salsas, dips, margarita mixes, and prepackaged taco kits with all the ingredients to make tacos at home with the family. With great unexpected surprise, the local community had a great response to us and our food. We realized our good, fresh food gave them hope and an escape from the day-to-day stresses and uncertainties.

Our customers’ synergy and passion for our food and what we were doing bled into our own motivation to grow and work long and hard to provide fresh, quality Mexican food. We needed a proper kitchen for production and a place we can call our own, so we decided to open a restaurant at the former location of one of Brian’s favorite childhood Mexican restaurants on the outskirts of Downtown Overland Park. And at that moment, Taco Naco KC Market & Taqueria was born.

With the popularity of their first taqueria, Brian and Fernanda needed a larger kitchen to grow and expand their catering business. They looked to a more central location in vivacious Westport entertainment district of Kansas City, Missouri and opened in late 2023. With a larger kitchen and bar came new specials, cocktails, and an awesome tequila and mezcal selection.

What started as a passionate school project quickly evolved out of the hardships of the pandemic to give a bright, rekindled hope to the new beginnings of humanity and this emerging new era. Today, Taco Naco KC is a beloved all-inclusive local experience by taco lovers of all types offering a wide array of chef-designed tacos, burritos, salsas, dips, margaritas, cocktails, and great seasonal specials. Stop by our restaurant and store to see the full experience we have to offer.